Seaver is Pepperdine University's College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. As part
of a University founded on Christian values, we provide a superior liberal arts education,
along with unique opportunities for personal discovery.

Performing Ensembles: Instrumental

Orchestra

Tony Cason, conductor

The Pepperdine University Orchestra is an integral part of the Pepperdine University
Department of Music Under the direction of Tony Cason, the orchestra performs a range
of classical and contemporary repertoire providing students the opportunity to perform
great orchestral music in a positive environment while striving for the highest standards
of excellence in performance. You do not have to be a music major to play in the orchestra.
Members are a mix of the many Pepperdine majors including music, biology, business,
communication, journalism, sociology, political science and art.

The orchestra performs a number of concerts throughout the year, including symphonic
concerts, opera and musical theater. Soloists have included renowned faculty performers,
as well as outstanding student soloists, chosen through the Thomas Osborn Concerto
Competition, a rigorous competition held each January.

The University Orchestra has an exciting schedule lined up for the 2008-2009 season
that will challenge the young student musicians who eagerly accept the opportunity
to broaden their repertoire and to collaborate with professional artists. This new
season will stir your musical senses by producing great live performances that combine
celebrated guest artists with compelling music created by the most dynamic composers.
All concerts are held at the wonderful Smothers Theater in the Ahmanson Fine Arts
Center, Pepperdine's "Home for the Performing Arts".

Tony Cason, Music Director and Conductor, extends "a personal invitation to experience
the Pepperdine University Orchestra and to enjoy the beloved masterworks and world-class
soloists that we take so much pleasure in bringing to you, our devoted audience."

String Program

One of the most vibrant places for string study, Pepperdine’s Department of Music
provides a balance between the difficulty of liberal arts university instruction and
teacher-inspired and self-motivated learning to help students create a career in music
and the arts today.

Our faculty is active professionally in the Los Angeles area, engaged as performers,
master clinicians and lecturers, making their teaching current and relevant. Come
and find out what makes Pepperdine one of the up and coming programs in the country.

Wind Ensemble

Tony Cason, conductor

The Pepperdine University Wind Ensemble, the newest performing ensemble at Pepperdine,
is comprised of the most talented wind, brass and percussion students on the campus.
Its repertoire ranges from traditional band literature, one-on-a part chamber works,
world premieres, to contemporary works for wind band. The Wind Ensemble will begin
rehearsing spring semester and is open to all University students through auditions.
You do not have to be a music major to participate and students from all disciplines
are invited to audition. This is an excellent opportunity to read the latest in concert
band literature, perform with guest conductors and soloists, continue valuable high
school musical training, and to further develop your talents in musical performance.
Be part of the new tradition!

Jazz Band

The Pepperdine Jazz Ensemble is made up of students and faculty from many different
disciplines around the campus that have a passion and love of performing and learning
about this great music. It provides students an opportunity to play the music of the
swing era to the music of the big bands of today. Led by Brian Scanlon, the band rehearses
on Monday evenings and performs concerts both on and off campus throughout the year.
These concerts always attract a large audience and give students an opportunity to
develop skills essential for performance in the music world today.

Auditions are held during the first two classes each semester.

Chamber Music

The Chamber Music Program at Pepperdine University under the direction of Professor
Sarah Banta since 2000 is an integral part of the Department of Music. Students have
the opportunity to be coached weekly in chamber music ensembles by members of the
instrumental faculty. These ensembles perform the finest in string, woodwind, brass,
guitar, and percussion ensemble literature, and perform each semester in public concerts.

Percussion Ensemble

The Pepperdine University Percussion Ensemble, led by percussionist Scott Higgins,
performs music that is as diverse as the world studying works from different cultures.
The instrumentation varies with each piece, providing an opportunity to excel on both
American and ethnic instruments. Percussion students have the opportunity to play
in the University Orchestra, the Wind Ensemble, the Jazz Band, the Wave Pep Band,
and with the Orchestra in musical and opera productions.

Guitar Ensemble

The Guitar Program at Pepperdine University has flourished under the direction of
Christopher Parkening, Distinguished Professor of Music and the Christopher Parkening
Chair of Guitar since 2002. The Pepperdine University Guitar Ensemble is open to all
guitar students enrolled in applied guitar or by permission of the instructor. Meeting
Fall and Spring semesters once a week, the guitar ensemble performs works written
for two or more guitars from diverse musical periods.